Memphis Grizzlies: 4 teams they shouldn’t want winning the #1 pick

As the Memphis Grizzlies will be sitting in the draft room like lame ducks, some Western Conference foes could potentially land their next franchise cornerstone. Should the Grizzlies be worried?

The Memphis Grizzlies haven’t had a lottery pick since they selected Xavier Henry in 2010. Some may argue that they haven’t made a good pick since Mike Conley … in 2007.

Ten years later, the NBA draft is loaded with talent. Unfortunately, Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball (or Lavar), De’Aaron Fox or Malik Monk won’t be walking in Memphis, donning Beale Street Blue. In the meantime, some team has the chance of landing a superstar, while the Grizzlies are left without a pick.

Could the Boston Celtics add Markelle Fultz to their already loaded backcourt? Will Lonzo Ball and the Big Baller Brand rep purple and gold and shine in the bright lights of Hollywood? Can Minnesota add yet another star-caliber player to their insanely talented, young core? Should the Grizzlies be concerned?

Wait, why would they be concerned? They’re a perennial playoff team every season.

Well, as these lottery teams keep acquiring top-14 draft picks each year, they pan out eventually. It happened with the Grizzlies. As Mike Conley, OJ Mayo, Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol gained experience, they eventually evolved into a playoff team. Recently, the Utah Jazz have finally blossomed into a playoff team.

The tide always turns.

However, some things will stay the same. The Warriors, Spurs and Rockets aren’t going anywhere. Free agency decisions in Utah and Los Angeles leave their futures foggy for the moment. Russ is going to do Russ things to will the Thunder to a first-round exit  the playoffs.

Portland is still a young team led by a dynamic backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

That leaves the Memphis Grizzlies. While it’s hard to see a team led by Marc Gasol and Mike Conley miss the playoffs, you can’t deny the talent of the teams waiting on the outside of the playoff picture.

A quartet of Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins and Ricky Rubio has the talent to become the next big powerhouse. The Denver Nuggets can become the next offensive juggernaut because of the “7-Foot Pistol Pete” Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the NBA’s resident archerer. A full season of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis could be a rude awakening for the entire NBA.

What if one of these up-and-coming teams add a superstar while the Grizzlies just get another year older? Could it spell the end of their playoff stretch? As the draft lottery is near, who should the Memphis Grizzlies not want to get the top pick?